Swimming project for deaf children shortlisted for award

Deaf children learning to swim.

Published:09:00Monday 12 September 2016

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A swimming project for deaf children in Scotland has reached the final of the National Lottery Awards 2016, beating off competition from 600 organisations in the search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded project.

The Deaf-Friendly Swimming Project by the National Deaf Children’s Society aims to break down barriers preventing the 45,000 deaf children and young people in the UK from taking part in swimming.

It launched two years ago and will run until July 2017.

The charity is now asking for public support to crown the project a winner. It will compete against six other projects in the Sports category of the competition at a star-studded London awards ceremony in September.

Eleanor Connelly, Swimming Development Officer for the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “We’re delighted to reach the finals of these prestigious awards. Lottery funding has been vital in helping us to empower deaf young people to access swimming, both as a sport and life-saving skill.

“It’s easy to vote so we hope lots of people show their support. It would be a fantastic reward for the team to get national recognition for their hard work creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.”

To support The Deaf-Friendly Swimming Project, please call 0844 836 9696 or go to http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Voting is open from June 22 to July 20.

TV star John Barrowman, who will present the awards, added: “The National Lottery Awards are a great way to shine a spotlight on outstanding Lottery-funded projects.

“Now in their thirteenth year, these awards celebrate the talent and dedication of the amazing staff and volunteers that run incredible life changing Lottery-funded projects for the benefit of their communities and the people who live in them.

“Our local projects have worked very hard to become a finalist and now need the Scottish public’s support to be crowned the winners. Projects receive funding thanks to National Lottery players who raise £36 million every single week for good causes across the UK such as The Deaf-Friendly Swimming Project.”